Thursday, September 27, 2007

- The Arizona State Museum's Pottery Project: It's called ''The Pottery Project: 2,000 Years - 20,000 Vessels''; and while China may have its ancient Great Wall, the Arizona State Museum in Tucson has its brand-new Great Wall of Pots. The wall, actually a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall display of whole-vessel ceramics, is just a portion of the pottery that spans 2,000 years of life in the unique environments of the American desert Southwest and northern Mexico. ''Every one of the contemporary tribes in the Southwest that makes pottery is represented here in the largest and most comprehensive collection on Southwest cultures anywhere,'' conservator Nancy Odegaard said. ''You can find other fantastic museum collections elsewhere, but ours is far-reaching and outstanding in the breadth of our older works. Our oldest vessel, discovered not far away from the museum location on the University of Arizona campus, is about 2,000 years old.http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415776

- New Journal Announcement: Left Coast Press announces that they are launching a new journal of Heritage Management for 2008. Editors are Kelley Hays-Gilpin and George Gumerman IV at Northern Arizona University. Preliminary information on the journal is available at:http://www.lcoastpress.com/journal.php?id=7

- Visiting Sinagua Sites: Montezuma's Well holds a fascination of its own. 800 to 1,200 years ago, two Indian cultures, known by archaeologist as the Sinagua and the Hohokam, lived and flourished here. A number of Pueblo-style structures once stood around the high cliffs above the sinkhole, or were built into its alcoves. Men, women, and children lived and died here, some probably never knowing about any other place on Earth.http://www.paysonroundup.com/section/frontpage_lead/story/30624

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

- Site tour of Original Phoenix Townsite this Friday: Logan Simpson Design Inc. (LSD) is completing data recovery excavations at Block 22 of the Original Phoenix Townsite, AZ T:12:42 (ASM) and Pueblo Patricio, AZ T:12:70 (ASM), and is pleased to invite our colleagues in the archaeological community to an information sharing meeting and site tour on Friday September 28, from 10 AM to 12 PM. Please respond with your interest and number of people who will be attending via email (gbrown@lsdaz.com). About the project: We identified architectural remains of John Y. T. Smith's flour mill, the Luhrs Hotel, as well as walls constructed of a variety of materials including adobe block, cobble, and brick. The extensive adobe block walls are likely some of the earliest historic structures in Phoenix. Prehistoric features include two true pit houses (having plastered walls and exterior wall posts). Location: The project area is in central Phoenix immediately east of Patriots Park and is bounded by Washington and Jefferson, and Central and First Street. On site parking is available from Washington by entering the lot at the center of the parcel (Cactus Way).

- Demolition of Historic Home in El Paso Raises Troubling Preservation Issues: The demolition of an old home in Sunset Heights has raised the ire of several residents and members of the city's Historic Landmark Commission, but the city's historic preservation officer said the decision to approve the demolition was not an easy one to make.http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_6983768?source=most_viewed

- Reminder, Saturday, September 29 is National Public Lands Day, Admission to All National Parks Will be Waved: Take a hike or pedal up to Colorado National Monument — for free. Or wrest pesky cheatgrass from archaeological sites at Mesa Verde National Park. Those are just a few things National Public Lands Day has in store Saturday for people eager to venture into nature and maybe do some public service on the side. All area national parks and monuments will waive their entrance fees for the day.http://www.cdarc.org/page/9u5c - Grand Junction Sentinelhttp://www.publiclandsday.org

- Position Announcement, Archaeologist, Simon Fraser University: The Department of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University invites applications for a tenure track Assistant Professor position specializing in geoarchaeology beginning September 1, 2008. We seek an individual with an established research program in geoarchaeology as well as a proven ability to publish research results and secure research funding. Research focus and regional specialization are open. The successful applicant also will need to demonstrate potential for effective teaching at the undergraduate level, including general archaeology courses as well as an upper division course in geoarchaeology. PhD is required at the time of appointment. Applications should include a Curriculum Vitae, the names and addresses of three academic referees, and a written statement of research and teaching goals in the medium term. The closing date for application submission is December 1, 2007. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Simon Fraser University is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from all qualified women and men, including visible minorities, aboriginal people and persons with disabilities. This position is subject to budgetary approval. Under the authority of the University Act personal information that is required by the University for academic appointment competitions will be collected. For further details see http://www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/Faculty_Openings/Collection_Notice.html. Applications or inquiries should be directed to Dr. David Burley, Chair, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., V5A 1S6 .

Friday, September 21, 2007

- Cedar Mesa Reports now Online: Several theses, dissertations, reports, and overviews relating to the Cedar Mesa Project in SE Utah are now available on the web. It is hoped that additional items stemming from this project can be posted in the future. The Cedar Mesa Project was a regional survey project (with some site testing and limited excavation) directed by Bill Lipe and R.G. Matson, with most fieldwork done in the 1970s. Several items related to this project are posted on the Research Exchange, a website maintained by the Washington State University Library. The URL ishttps://research.wsulibs.wsu.edu:8443/dspace/handle/2376/735

In addition, a long report on the sample-based survey of Cedar Mesa has been posted by R.G. Matson at the web site maintained by the Laboratory of Archaeology at the University of British Columbia. The citation for this report is HUMAN ADAPTATIONS ON CEDAR MESA, SOUTHEASTERN UTAH, R.G. Matson, William D. Lipe, and William R. Haase IV (1990). It can be accessed athttp://www.anth.ubc.ca/Matson_1990.9797.0.html

- Three Corners Conference to Meet this October: The 2007 Three Corners Archaeological Conference will be held October 13th, 2007, at the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Papers will cover topics and research themes from southern Nevada, southeastern California, southwestern Utah, and western Arizona. For additional information please visit the web site at http://nvarch.org, or write/call Mark C. Slaughter / Laurie Perry, Bureau of Reclamation, LC2600, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV, 89006; 702-293-8143. Email:threecornersconference@yahoo.com

- Lecture on Archaeoastronomy at White Sands National Monument: White Sands National Monument will conclude its 2007 Full Moon Night program series at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the amphitheater at the end of Dunes Drive. Archaeologist Pete Eidenbach will discuss Native Americans' astronomy and their view of the cosmos. A ranger-guided Sunset Stroll Nature Walk will start at 5:45 p.m. Visitors may enter the DunesDrive until 10 p.m. Sept. 28 only and must leave the park by 11 p.m. Entrance fee is $3 a person (16 and older) and is valid for seven days. Children and holders of Golden Eagle, Golden Age, Golden Access, or White Sands Annual passports are admitted free. Information: (505) 479-6124 or (505) 679-2599, ext. 230. - El Paso Times.

- Arizona Archaeology Month Organizers Seek Images for 2008 Poster: The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office is seeking photographs for use in the design of the 2008 Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month (AAHAM) poster. The theme of the 2008 celebration of AAHAM is "Share Our Dirt!" and we want the poster to be fun and different! We think that it would be good to have photos that show people (children and adults) interacting in archaeology education activities, such as, participating in hands-on/interactive events at museums, Expos, Parks, hikes, tours, lectures, etc.http://www.cdarc.org/sat/2008-poster.doc - MS Word Document

- Arizona Archaeology Month Participation Form Now Available: It is that time of year again! SHPO is seeking your assistance in sponsoring events to help celebrate 2008 Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month. Please return the form to SHPO by November 17, 2007. Thank you all for helping to make Arizona well known for its successful public archaeology/heritage programming -- there would be no AAHAM program without you! We look forward to receiving your 2008 AAHAM Listing of Events Participation Forms - Ann Howard.http://www.cdarc.org/sat/2008-aahm-events.doc - MS Word Document

- Position Announcement: University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Anthropology, invites applications and nominations for a tenure-track position in archaeology to begin on August 16, 2008. Appointment is expected to be at the Assistant Professor level and is pending budgetary approval. Geographic preference will be given to scholars working in North America and with theoretical and methodological specializations that complement our current strengths. The successful applicant will join a large community of archaeologists with integrated research interests in the joint doctoral program of the Department of Anthropology (UIC) and the Field Museum. PhD should be completed by the time of the appointment. Candidates should also demonstrate scholarly productivity, the potential for grant support, and teaching experience. For fullest consideration submit CV, cover letter describing qualifications, and the names/addresses of three references to the Search Committee Chair, Department of Anthropology, M/C 027, 1007 West Harrison Street, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago Illinois 60607-7139 by November 16, 2007. UIC is Chicago's largest university and it has one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation. The University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Thanks to Bill Lipe and Ann Howard for Contributions to today's newsletter.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

-Arizona Culturekeeper Awards to Be Presented on the 30th of September: Enter Arizona Culturekeepers, 10 honorees chosen each year for their historic and cultural impact. Trimble chairs the committee that chooses the winners, aided by the Arizona Historical Foundation and The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Phoenix. The culturekeepers will be honored at a Sept. 30 ceremony at the resort.http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/history_culture/63276.php

- Oro Valley Historian Looking for Early Photographs of Northwest Tucson: Author Barbara Marriott is on a quest to find photographs and information from Oro Valley's past. "It's very difficult to get historical pictures of Oro Valley because Oro Valley incorporated in 1974," Marriott said. She started her search earlier this year with 18 pictures from the Oro Valley Historical Society. Another contributor, the Center for Desert Archaeology, provided photos of the Honey Bee Village excavation site. It was a Hohokam ballcourt village located in what is now Oro Valley.http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/201588

- New Exhibit at the Arizona State Museum Examines El Camino Real De Tierra Adentro: An exhibition of 50 stunning black and white panoramic photographs by award-winning Mexican photographer Eniac Martinez is enhanced by an integral soundscape of songs and stories produced by historian and radio producer Jack Loeffler. Martinez retraced the 1,500-mile route of the Spanish colonial Camino Real from Zacatecas to its northern terminus in Taos, New Mexico. His evocative photographs of people and the landscapes in which they live tell a story of daily life and folk traditions. This exhibition is brought to ASM by Tucson's Mexican Consulate. Opening celebrations on October 5 and 6 are free and open to the public.http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/exhibits/index.shtml

- (Related Event) Friday, October 5, 2007, Opening Celebration - El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, 6:30 p.m: Come celebrate our newest temporary exhibition featuring the photography of Mexican artist Eniac Martinez and the soundscape of historian and radio producer Jack Loeffler. Panel discussion at Center for English as a Second Language (one building to the east of ASM's north building). Reception, exhibition viewing and booksigning follow the discussion at ASM north. FREEhttp://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/public/index.shtml

- Digital Humanities Grant Workshop Offered at Pueblo Grande: You are invited to participate in a free grant workshop on the Digital Humanities Initiative (DHI) of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Brett Bobley, DHI Director and NEH Chief Information Officer will lead the workshop. Registration begins at 9:00 and the workshop starts promptly at 9:30. We’d appreciate an rsvp to rita.hallows@asu.edu (or 480-965-5775) or norma.villa@asu.edu (or 480-965-5779) so that we have enough materials and seating available for those attending—we need your name and e-mail address.) This workshop will explore grant support available from NEH for projects that utilize or study the impact of digital technology. NEH is interested in supporting a wide variety of projects that (a) digitize important materials thereby increasing the public’s ability to search and access humanities information; (b) deploy digital technologies and methods to enhance our understanding or a topic or issues; (c) study the impact of digital technology on the humanities. Grants begin at $5,000 with greater funding available depending on the project. The DHI includes joint grants with IMLS and other government agencies. More information is available at:http://www.neh.gov/grants/digitalhumanities.html

- Links Between Cultural Anthropology and Archaeology Explored on the Archaeology Channel: In this series of interviews with today's news-makers, host Faith Haney of Central Washington University explores cultural anthropology and archaeology. In the third episode, taped on January 26, 2007, Faith visits with anthropologist Dr. Karl Heider, of the University of South Carolina. Dr. Heider is a film-maker and author and a pioneer of visual anthropology. His research among the Dani people of New Guinea is documented in the famous ethnographic film, Dead Birds. The interview closes with footage from his 1964 film, Dani Sweet Potatoes. The use of visual media in documenting the human cultural legacy has grown rapidly in recent decades. We are pleased to feature one of the early pacesetters of this approach in Anthropology Field Notes 3, the latest video feature on our nonprofit streaming-media Web site, The Archaeology Channel.http://www.archaeologychannel.org/

- Employment Opportunity (Moab) - Revised: Employment Opportunity (Moab): Temporary detail for ANY Federal archaeologist. The Moab Utah Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management is looking for an individual for a temporary detail of 2-4 months to fill in until a permanent archaeologist can be hired. The individual must currently be a Federal employee and have sufficient Southwestern (Four Corners) archaeological experience to qualify for a BLM permit in the area. If you are interested in this temporary detail, please contact the Acting Moab Field Office Manager, Shelley Smith; Acting Moab Field Office Manager, 435-259-2174 office. 801-750-4608 cell or Email Shelley_Smith@blm.gov

- Employment Opportunity (Moab) - Revised: A full time permanent archaeologist position is being advertised for the Bureau of Land Management in the Moab Field Office, Utah. The position of Archeologist GS-0193-9/11 in Moab, UT is currently open through the following announcements from 09/14/2007 through 10/08/2007: The announcement open to permanent (career, career conditional) and past permanent (reinstatement eligible) candidates and those eligible through certain special appointment authorities can be accessed at the following link:http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=62466899

Employment Opportunity (Arkansas): Research Station Archeologist,Arkansas Archeological Survey, Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park This is a 12 month full-time appointment with the Arkansas Archeological Survey, an independent unit of the University of Arkansas System. The person hired will have an academic title in the Department of Anthropology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and can chair and serve on graduate committees. Duties: Continue the Research Station's ongoing archeological research on the Late Woodland Plum Bayou culture and the Toltec Mounds site. The candidate must be willing to conduct research and fieldwork in central Arkansas. Duties also include: public outreach and public contact atthe Park, and collection and record management. The Toltec Mounds research station archeologist is required to interact with and provide support to the Little Rock chapter of the Arkansas Archeological Society, an amateur organization. Opportunities exist for teaching one course a year at the University of Arkansas Little Rock campus. Location: Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park is located 16 miles southeast of Little Rock and 9 miles northwest of England, Arkansas. Qualifications: PhD in anthropology or archeology is required. Research experience in the southeast or mid-south is preferred. The successful candidate must be able to conduct research in a public environment with avocational archeologists and must be able to work with Indian tribes. Salary and Starting Date: $42,000 a year. Benefits include: 4 weeks annual leave, sick leave, health care, TIAA-CREF retirement program. Preferred starting date is January, 2008, although this is negotiable. Application: Please send by November 1, 2007 a statement of interest and experience, resume, and names of three references to: Thomas J. Green, Director, Arkansas Archeological Survey. 2475 N. Hatch Ave. Fayetteville, AR 72704 tgreen@uark.edu

- Restoration of an Early Aviation Age Geoglyph: Somewhere out in the Sonoran Desert, about 20 miles east of downtown Mesa, a giant landmark points the way to Phoenix. East Valley residents have seen the landmark on a hill in the Usery Mountain Recreation Area for decades, and last week the marker got a fresh coat of paint. But few people seem to know why it is there or the history behind it.http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/97444

- Gila Cliff Dwelling Centennial Events for October: Throughout 2007, Gila Cliff Dwellings’ theme Celebrating a Century of Storytelling will guide the special events and programs at the monument, leading up to the actual 100th anniversary on November 16, 2007. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Superintendent Steve Riley announced the following October centennial celebration activities.http://www.cdarc.org/sat/gcd-october.doc - MS Word Document

-Employment Opportunity (Moab): A full time permanent archaeologist position is being advertised for the Bureau of Land Management in the Moab Field Office, Utah. The position of Archeologist GS-0193-9/11 in Moab, UT is currently open through thefollowing announcements from 09/14/2007 through 10/08/2007. The announcement open to permanent (career, career conditional) and past permanent (reinstatement eligible) candidates and those eligible through certain special appointment authorities can be accessed at the following link:http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=62466899

- Employment Opportunity (Moab): Temporary detail for Federal BLM archaeologists. The Moab Utah Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management is looking for an individual for a temporary detail of 2-4 months to fill in until a permanent archaeologist can be hired. The individual must currently be a BLM employee and have sufficient Southwestern (Four Corners) archaeological experience to qualify for a BLM permit in the area. If you are interested in this temporary detail, please contact the Acting Moab Field Office Manager, Shelley Smith; Acting Moab Field Office Manager, 435-259-2174 office. 801-750-4608 cell or Email Shelley_Smith@blm.gov

Friday, September 14, 2007

- "Replanting" Stolen Petroglyphs: U.S. Forest Service officials never believed John Ligon’s claim that he dug up three boulders etched with American Indian petroglyphs four years ago to put them in his front yard for safekeeping. Now, after initially thinking it was best to place them in a state museum, the agency — in consultation with local tribal leaders — has decided to return them to the mountainside where they were for perhaps as long as 1,000 years before they were disturbed.http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/68207.html

- Utah Canyon Closed to ATV's in Order to Protect Ancient Sites: All-terrain vehicle riders have done so much damage to a canyon near Bluff that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has closed it indefinitely to motorized travel to protect 800-year-old Anasazi ruins. Nick Sandberg, acting BLM Monticello field office manager, said Wednesday that as of today, motorized vehicles would be banned from 1,871 acres of Recapture Canyon just below the Recapture Dam near Blanding.http://www.sltrib.com/ci_6879463

- Western History Symposium in Prescott: You are invited to a full day of fascinating talks about the history of Prescott, Yavapai County, and Arizona. This symposium is free of charge, cosponsored by the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners Intl., with cooperation from the Skull Valley and Prescott Valley Historical Societies and the Arizona Rough Riders Historical Association. This fascinating day starts at 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on October 13, 2007. Programs will be held in the Museum Center Blue Rose Theater and the Granite Creek Center. An example of the topice to be covered would be "Shady Women and Respectability" presented by Ann Hibner Koblitz, "Filming the West of Zane Grey" by Ed Hulse, "Arizona in the Civil War" by Al Bates.

- National Public Lands Day Provides Free Admission to National Parks: All National Park Service sites, including Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, will offer free visitor admission on September 29 for National Public Lands Day. In addition to waiving entrance fees, many national parks and other public lands will host special programs and volunteer work parties to commemorate the 14th annual event. Anyone who volunteers on National Public Lands Day will receive a free one day pass valid for future use at any National Park Service site.http://www.publiclandsday.org

- Archaeology as Necessary Science: Cal Day brings over 35,000 community members to the Berkeley campus every April. On Cal Day, the Archaeological Research Facility building echoes with the sounds of students learning how to chip volcanic glass into tools, and their delighted laughter as they create their own cave paintings. These enthusiastic visitors, and more than 1,000 students in local schools who every year visit the campus archaeology center or are visited by graduate students committed to serving the public, would be surprised to learn, as Corbin Collins' asserted ("Who owns the past?" Open Forum, Sept. 5) that archaeology is "luxury endeavor for a limited audience."http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/13/ED1OS4OSS.DTL

- Class in Archaeological Stewardship Offered in Laughlin: Residents in and around Laughlin who have an interest in prehistoric and historic cultural history and archaeology, and have a love of the desert, are being sought by the Cultural Site Stewardship Program (CSSP) of the Public Lands Institute to help preserve and conserve the area's cultural sites.http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2007/09/13/news/local/local13.txt

- Upcoming Lecture to Discuss Future of the Arizona State Musuem (Tucson): Old Pueblo Archaeology Center's monthly "Third Thursdays" guest speaker program presents "The Past, Present and Future of the Arizona State Museum" with Steven M. Harvath, Jr., Ph.D. The Arizona State Museum's reputation for excellence rests on broad shoulders. The work of pioneering southwestern archaeologists Emil Haury and Byron Cummings among others is responsible for the collections that are now secure in the museum. Ongoing archaeological projects continue to enrich the collection and our knowledge of the people who made Arizona home. The ASM's collections include the world's largest collection of southwestern Indian pottery. These and other treasures are made available to the public and archaeological community through exhibitions, programs, publications and the ASM library. As part of a land grant university, ASM has an obligation to preserve and share its collections and research with the citizens of the State of Arizona. The addition of the Rio Nuevo facility in downtown Tucson will be a major step in realizing that goal. Thursday September 20, 2007, 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center Auditorium, 5100 W. Ina Road Bldg. 8

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

- Albuquerque City Council Approves New Archaeological Ordinance: Last Wednesday, September 5th, the Albuquerque City Council voted 7 - 0 to approve an archaeological ordinance. The Albuquerque Archaeological Ordinance, sponsored by City Councilor Martin Heinrich, was forged through intensive negotiations between representatives of the archaeological community and commercial and subdivision developers. It establishes a City Archaeologist in the planning department; and, requires that major developments 5 acres and above be reviewed for potential impacts to significant archaeological resources as part of the City's development review and approval process. This is the culmination of 21 years worth of effort on the part of archaeologists and conservationists in Albuquerque. The bill will go to the mayor for signature within the next few days.http://www.cdarc.org/page/dmqh - City of Albuquerque

- Celebration at Pueblo Grande Highlights Ancient Regional Links to Mexican Culture: On Sunday, a few hundred people gathered at Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park to celebrate the cultural connections between the prehistoric cultures of the Hohokam people of the Salt River Valley and the Meso-American cultures of Mexico and Central America.http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0910heritage0910.html

- Fundraising Party for El Paso Museum of Archaeology this Weekend: El Pasoans can sip tequila against the backdrop of the Franklin Mountains during a fundraising event for the El Paso Museum of Archaeology this weekend. The El Paso Archaeological Society is hosting the Tequila Sundown membership drive and fundraising event from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the museum, 4301 Transmountain. Bill Luther, president of the El Paso Archaeological Society, said the organization needs to raise $27,000 to help keep the museum open.http://www.elpasotimes.com/neighborhoods/ci_6847688

- Oro Valley Funds Improvements at Honey Bee Village: The Oro Valley Town Council awarded $774,679 in contracts at last Wednesday’s meeting. The largest contract, totaling $491,979, was granted to K.A.Z. Construction to build screening and retaining walls at Honey Bee Village, near Moore and Rancho Vistoso boulevards.http://www.explorernews.com/article/show/19776

- Employment Opportunity: Desert Archaeology Inc. is seeking temporary archaeological field technicians to participate in testing and data recovery projects in and around Phoenix, Arizona. Work is expected to begin in late September 2007 and continue through the end of the year. One of the upcoming projects will be outside the Phoenix metropolitan area and will include per diem and lodging. Previous excavation experience is necessary, including familiarity with feature plan and profile mapping, excavation, and form completion. Preference will be given to applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology or archaeology who are currently based in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Wages are competitive and commensurate with experience. To apply for these positions, please submit a resume and cover letter stating your interest and qualifications to Beth Bagwell at the address below. Submittals via email are preferred. Elizabeth A. Bagwell, Ph.D. Desert Archaeology, Inc. 509 S. 48th Street, Suite 104Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 967-8580, (480) 967-9221 FAX,bbagwell@desert.com

Monday, September 10, 2007

- Simulated Excavations Funded in Southern California: Students from elementary school age through college will soon have a chance to dig in the dirt for artifacts and fossils, thanks to an infusion of grant funds at the Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology. Linda Parker, the center's chief development officer, said fundraising is going strong and that a number of grants have been secured, including a $353,000 state award that will be used to build three simulated archaeological digs near the museum's Diamond Valley Lake site.http://www.cdarc.org/page/bmnu - The Press Enterprise

- Museum of Northern Arizona Hopi Festival Named Top Group Travel Destination for 2008: The American Bus Association presented the Museum of Northern Arizona Thursday morning with a special plaque naming the 75th annual Hopi Festival of Arts and Culture the top 2008 event in the United States. The presentation, hosted by the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau, took place on the grounds of the Museum of Northern Arizona. Ben Nuvamsa, chairman of the Hopi Tribe, attended the ceremony, as did MNA Director Robert Breunig.http://www.cdarc.org/page/fq3 - The Arizona Daily Sun

- Book Sale and Book Signing at Arizona State Museum: Friday and Saturday, September 14 and 15, 2007 the "Very Nearly Annual Discount Benefit Booksale" will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free. Save 40-70% on remainders and first-quality NEW books: visual arts, humanities, poetry, ethnology, Southwest studies, world archaeology, anthropology, cooking, lifestyle, architecture, and children’s books. ASM members admitted one hour early on Friday for best selection! On Saturday, co-authors Pat and Kim Messier will sign copies of their new book Hopi and Pueblo Tiles, 10-1 PM. All proceeds benefit the Arizona State Musuem.

- Employment Opportunity (Mesa) Historic Preservation Planner: A Historic Preservation Planner is responsible for coordinating, promoting, and implementing the City’s Historic Preservation Program. This position functions as the designated Historic Preservation Officer for the City and is the primary contact for historic preservation activities. Duties include developing and administering City policies and procedures for the protection of cultural and historical resources; ensuring that City activities comply with historic preservation regulations; and providing technical, architectural, design, historical, and policy guidelines to City staff, City Council, governmental officials, boards and committees, and regional, state, and national preservation agencies.http://cityofmesa.org/Jobs/PDF/JobAnnouncements/JA4978.pdf

Friday, September 7, 2007

- The Amazing Museum of Northern Arizona: What do you get when you mix Navajo rugs, abstract art, Hopi kachinas, thousands of seed specimens, Zuni jewelry and dinosaurs? The Museum of Northern Arizona. In its ongoing efforts to explore, preserve and enlighten, the museum has been a lighthouse of research and education about the Colorado Plateau. And that explains why the staff studies Native Americans, ancient forest lands and extinct reptilian creatures - at one time or another, all lived on the plateau - and then puts the findings on display.http://www.cdarc.org/page/fjqs - The Arizona Republic

- Mesa Sued Over Cultural Impact Fees: A homebuilders association is challenging Mesa for imposing a fee on new developments in an effort to raise revenue for museums and to preserve the city’s archaeological finds. The Home Builders Association for Central Arizona is the plaintiff in a suit filed Wednesday in Maricopa County Superior Court that challenges Mesa’s “cultural impact fees.” On Tuesday, the city raised the impact fees it tacks onto new homes. The goal was to use the extra money to support a range of city services — from new sewage-treatment plants to parks and museums.http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/96664

- A Graphical View of Egyptian Culture at the Next Meeting of the Pacific Coast Archaeology Society: Pacific Coast Archaeological Society's September 13th meeting will feature Mr. Ahab Afifi speaking on “Egypt's Culture: A Graphic Representation.” Meeting information: Thursday, September 13, 2007, 7:30 pm at the Irvine Ranch Water District, 15600 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine, CA. Meeting is free and open to the public. Mr. Afifi’s lecture on ancient Egypt will emphasize the cultural component and the indelible contribution of this ancient society to today’s Egypt and indeed the world at large. He will consider language, religion, architecture, symbols, relief in the round, and time measurement and the calendar.http://www.pcas.org

- (Reminder) Arizona Humanities Council Lecture to Examine Archaeological and Cultural Views of the Treatment of the Dead: Allen Dart Presents " What Do We Do with Our Ancestors" Saturday September 8, 2007, 10 a.m. to noon at the Yavapai Apache Nation Tribal Headquarters, 2400 W. Datsi, Camp Verde. Ever since archaeology became an active intellectual pursuit, many archaeologists have held that all materials left behind by ancient peoples, including human remains as well as artifacts, are proper subjects for scientific study, and that these materials should all be preserved in museums to keep them accessible for study in the future. In contrast, some Native Americans and others believe that human remains and grave objects should not be subjected to any kind of destructive scientific studies, or not even disturbed or studied at all, and that if they are disturbed they should be respectfully reburied.http://www.cdarc.org/sat/opac-ancestors.doc

- Civic Identity Crisis in Mesa? Why are we so afraid to build our own identity here in Mesa? The Mesa Southwest Museum, one of our unknown treasures, has stooped to become the "Arizona Museum of Natural History" in order to attract visitors. Have people thought, "Oh, that museum's in Mesa. Well, they must not have a very extensive collection. It's not even worth the trip." Will naming it after our state give it more clout?http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0904kitchen,pam.html

- Video on the Desruction of Iraq's Archaeological Heritage Debuts on the Archaeology Channel: The protection of the human cultural record is central to ALI's mission, so we welcome every opportunity to present films that focus on that theme. Now we have a film reminding people around the world about the tragedy that struck Iraq in April 2003 and still is unfolding. The ransacking of the Iraq Museum and the destruction at other Iraqi cultural institutions and sites is the topic of Erasing Memory: The Cultural Destruction of Iraq, the latest video feature on our nonprofit streaming-media Web site, The Archaeology Channel http://www.archaeologychannel.org/

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

- Preservation Debate in Tempe Takes and Encapsulating Twist: The owner of Monti’s La Casa Vieja restaurant — a steakhouse located in Maricopa County’s oldest occupied structure, built in 1873 at today’s Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway has seen his customer base slowly diminishing in recent years. In the spring he agreed to sell his property to Scottsdale-based 3W Cos, but the old adobe originally built by Tempe founder Charles Trumbull Hayden as his residence, would be preserved and continue to be a restaurant. The Tribune’s Garin Groff reported on Wednesday 3W’s preliminary designs for its structure, which took by surprise many longtime Tempeans. It calls for one of two high-rise towers, a 24-story building, to be built over the adobe restaurant. To many, and to us at first blush, this plan didn’t give the impression of maintaining a historic structure.http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/96438http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/96102

- Navajo Commemoration Ceremony Recalls Evictions from Chaco Canyon: The canyon would eventually become the place Martinez would call home. At least until she was 8 years old. Though it was more than 70 years ago, she can recall the day her grandfather and grandmother, Tashniah, were told they were going to be evicted from the canyon. She can still remember the devastation it brought upon her grandfather.http://www.cdarc.org/page/kdp - Gallup Independent

- Ninth Circuit Court Rules in Favor of Preservation for Cave Rock, a Sacred Washoe Site in Nevada. The Access Fund argues that because there is no significant geological impact on Cave Rock from rock climbing, it is inconsistent to conclude that climbing harms the physical resource. The Access Fund’s argument misses the point. The value of Cave Rock is not simply geological; it is also cultural and historical. As documented in extensive research and consultation with various community groups, rock climbing harms the physical (not necessarily geological) integrity of the rock.http://www.cdarc.org/sat/cave_rock_ruling.pdf

- Texas Archaeological Society's 2007 Annual Meeting. The Texas Archeological Society (TAS) meets October 26-28, 2007 at the Menger Hotel, 204 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio. Join archeologists to relate the results of your recent archeological investigations. Short talks, poster displays, and exhibits will relate intriguing details of the archeological work. Professionals from around the state will meet on Friday at the Council for Texas Archeologists.http://www.txarch.org

- Marist College In Tucson on Arizona's Most Endangered Buildings List: The crumbling adobe Marist College building in downtown Tucson is one of 16 properties statewide to make the Arizona's Most Endangered Historic Places list, the Arizona Preservation Foundation announced Thursday. The 1916 three-story structure on the grounds of St. Augustine Cathedral is the tallest adobe structure in southern Arizona, but monsoon storms in recent years have torn away part of the the northwest corner and weakened the other corners.http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/61693.phphttp://www.azmostendangered2007.blogspot.com

- Gila Cliff Dwellings Change Hours: Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Superintendent Steve Riley announced today the change to winter hours, effective September 3rd. The trailhead to the dwellings will be open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. All visitors must exit the trail by 5:00 pm. The Gila Visitor Center will be open daily from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1st). Guided tours of the dwellings will continue to be held at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm until further notice. Please allow 20-30 minutes to hike to the first cave where the tour begins.http://www.nps.gov/gicl

Thanks to Brian Kenny for contributions to this issue of Southwestern Archaeology Today.

About Southwestern Archaeology Today

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